How to Be a World Changer | 10 Important Points

You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God this at our website and learn more about harvest partners@harvest.org world changers are often not appreciated their persecuted role as we usually claim is going to be persecuted wants to be more of you lately pastor Greg Laurie brings important encouragement to those of its official position for free. We have a message that was delivered.

Hold your ground and be a man or a woman of faith because you are changing the world because you reflect onward Christian soldiers. Why are there so many Christian retreats. Recent Christian charges. Seriously though, we are often more comfortable staying in our bubble margin on a new beginning.

Greg Laurie hope to be people who impacted culture around directors were called to be world changers, making sure we impact the world and not vice versa governed out 10 principles about how you can be a world changer. So if you're taking notes here is point number one world changers have an active not a passive way will say that again for a business world changers haven't got a passive faith. Listen, the more you use your faith is stronger gross 120 says this, you see their friends, build yourself up in your most holy faith by praying of the Holy Spirit staying in the center of God's love keeping your arms open ready for the mercy of our master Jesus Christ.

Notice the emphasis there is on faith doing things. Faith is praying. Faith is staying.

Faith is keeping faith is active point number two world changers do things with their faith. They do things with their faith in Hebrews 11 we read these words. Abel offered a sacrifice know what prepared an ark.

Abraham obeyed Abraham offered up Isaac.

You see, they did things with their faith was in the best of faith that has no works.

As of faith that does not work.

James says faith without works is dead, bringing me to point number three.

The faith we need is a world changer grow stronger through testing. If you have real faith in God, your faith will grow stronger through adversity and difficulty not weaker were told in James one all kinds of trials and temptations crowding in on you, brothers, don't treat them as intruders but friends realize income to test your faith and produce in you a quality of your all right what we get faith. Point number four we get it by reading and understanding the word of God. Romans 1017 says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

So we want to be looking in the word of God and then point number five. Listen, this is a big one.

Faith can make the difference between something happening and not happen, then repeat that parenthesis faith can make the difference between something happening and not happening. I we see so many instances in this Scripture. There was one woman that was praying for her daughter and Jesus answered her prayer.

Then he said to work woman, great is your faith, it will be done as you desire to. She put her faith into action. She was persistent with their faith in Jesus granted her request and commended her for her faith, but yet we also read Jesus could do no mighty works in the hometown he lived in of Nazareth because of their on the belief. No miracles were done there. We can stop the work of God in our life by unbelief. Unbelief is the fee. Hebrews 11 success without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Listen what God did in the lives of people years ago.

He can still do in the lives of people today. God wants to do something fresh in our generation.

Let me personalize that God wants to work in your life. He wants to work in your home. He wants to work in your sphere of influence. These men and women took risks and God bless and let's read a little more about them. Hebrews 1133 to 35 it says by faith. These people overthrew kingdoms. They ruled with justice. They receive what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions and quench the flames of fire, the escape death by the edge of the sword, their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put a whole army as the flight women receive their loved ones back from death that brings me to principle number six world changers are indestructible until God is done with them world changers are indestructible until God is done with them. Worrying about when you're going to die. That is in the hands of God. The Bible says it's appointed under women. Once diamond comes the judgment is going to happen at the appointed hour. So if you're freaking out about it and stressing about it all the time you're wasting a lot of energy you live as long as God wants you to live. Not a day longer.

But then again, your life will not be cut short of God wants it to go on longer. Your indestructible until God is done with you. Principle number seven world changers are never alone world changers are never alone.

Verse 33. They quench the power of fire. Now this is probably alluding to the story of Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo King. This is Nebuchadnezzar now who preceded Darius who gave a decree that everybody should bow before a giant gold statue that he erected in Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo being the Jewish boys and believing what the Bible said were not can I have another God before the Lord. They refused about the king was outraged and he threw them into a fiery furnace.

In fact, the flames were so hot that they killed the men who were putting the men after they were dropped in the furnace. The king looks and Kim believes of his eyes is probably rubbing dumb insane waveguide through three people in the furnace and I see 1/4 one and there walking around.

Who was this mysterious, shadowy figure walking with Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo in the fiery furnace as though it were a walk in the park on a Sunday afternoon.

It was Jesus walking with them and they were delivered and Jesus is walking with you through your hardship right now you feel all alone you feel abandoned. I want you to know that God is there and that God cares and Jesus is low. I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Here's another principal world changers apply their faith. They apply their faith link in verse 35 of Hebrews 11 women receive their loved ones back to death. This is probably a reference to a light jet raising the widows son to life again. So Elijah was a great prophet of the Lord right and so he went to a woman. The widow she had very little money. She had a son most prized thing on earth.

Her beloved boy and he asked her if he could crash at her house. If you will. If she could put them up. And so she let him stay and she would feed him from the meager supply of food that she had. She then realize she'd invited a world changer indoor home. The great prophet and it's a great principal, because the Lord kept providing for her, and she always had what she needed and just illustrates the principle of putting God first in your life and honoring him to your giving and he takes care of you.

One day the widows son died she actually blamed Elijah Ford. I should've never invited you here to stay at this house and this happened because of you alive just like God when we just take care of this. All right.

The Bible tells us that he went to that boy and he carried him up to his little apartment and he raise the boy from the dead. Listen, even death does not stop a world changer know when we think of a light that we think he's a rock star. He's a biblical legend. Elijah calling fire down from heaven Elijah stopping the rain.

Elijah raising a boy from the dead. That's all truly guess what Elijah was a dude like you affect the Bible even says in James 517 Elijah was a human as we are yet he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, and none fell for 3 1/2 there some to remember about Elijah after he had his great contest with the profitability amount Carmel.

He fell into a deep funk. He was deeply depressed and actually didn't even want to live any longer. That brings up another point. Even world changers get depressed at times. Again, they're not here in Hebrews 11 and the hero solid faith because they were great people. It's because they put their faith in a great God.

Think about the weakness of so many of them and so we all have our moments of sadness. We might even deal with depression and these are human beings and God work in and God can work through you as well Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message just a moment, you know, there's nothing lying here in the word of God worshiping the Lord together. I will encourage you to join us for something we call Harvest at Home every Saturday and Sunday harvest.origin joint Christians, literally from around the world as we worship and we study the word of God together.

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Pastor Greg is presenting a message called how to be a world changer from Hebrews chapter 11.

Now we come to another group of world changers. Now they too had great faith. They too trusted God, but they then walked to fires. They didn't part the Red Sea and they did not have their dad restored affect. They suffered greatly, and many of them die. So how's this work with the losers in the Hall of Fame while the others were winners, not at all because we don't decide how long of a life we will and we don't decide what circumstances will have to face. We just decide how we will react to them. The first group of world changers that I talked about glorify God through escaping, like Daniel, Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo. This second group of world changers glorify God by enduring.

Let's read about them Hebrews 11 verse 35 others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They place our hope in a better life after the resurrection they were jeered at their backs were cut open with whips. They were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning others were sawed in half. Some were killed with the sword. What about wearing skins of sheep and goats destitute and oppressed and mistreated, of whom the world was not worthy wandering over deserts and mountains and hiding in caves and holes in the ground, but they earned a good reputation because of their faith. None of them receive all that God had promised God had something better for them and for us, world changers are often not appreciated, but instead there persecuted.

According to Jewish tradition.

Isaiah was sawn in half of the wooden saw alluded to here in Hebrews 11. Even today around the world.

Christians are persecuted. Understand that religious groups are persecuted but no group is persecuted like the Christian all the studies that have been done on this topic bear that truth out. Christians are the most persecuted people in the world today, and we know that our brothers and sisters suffer living in nations like China and North Korea and I in certain Islamic nations where they're not allowed to practice their faith, but the Bible does say all that live godly in Jesus Christ will be persecuted though that's a promise.

We usually claim is that if you want to be persecuted.

Who wants to be Jared wants to Mema wants to be laughed at as an app and you lately, people made fun of you, then make jokes about you when you walk into the room. Oh here comes holy Joe oh here comes Mr. spiritual who don't preach to us. You know, and they put you down because of what you believe what I'm saying you hold your ground and be a man or a woman of faith, because you would affect her change in the world.

The very fact that you walk into a room and they identify you. First and foremost as a Christian, and it affects everything around it said something just be a loving Christian be a nice person. Make sure when you're persecuted your persecuted for the right reason. I've seen some Christians who are obnoxious and their intrusive and their overbearing and their argumentative and their arrogance and when people reject what they say they say, thank God and being persecuted for righteousness sake hallelujah know you're being persecuted because your rate chart note be persecuted for righteousness sake because you reflect Christ all world changers someone who changes the temperature of a room. I opened by asking the question, are you up thermostat or are you a thermometer thermostat sets the temperature. The thermometer tells you what the temperature is do you set the temperature in the room or do you merely reflect that. Let me put it another way, are you changing the world or is the world changing. You hate these world changers and category two. They suffered and it doesn't seem fair doesn't and would feel that way in life.

We think what what why am I suffering you don't, why am I going to do this in other people are not going to this. Why am I single well when all my friends are married.

Why can't we have children when one of my good friend says five children.

Why did my child go prodigal and their children did not. Why do I have this horrible illness will all of my friends are healthy. Why did my child dying list goes on them and speaking from a back in here. I've struggled because as you know, our son went to be with the Lord in 2008, 10, and I remember after it happened, I would look at so many people wed huge families and all their children were alive and I had two sons and one of my sons is taken from me and it was devastating and heartbreaking and I struggled with it, but but I had hoped, but I have a whole that brings me to my last point world changers have her reward waiting the will make it all worth it. We have her reward waiting that will make in all worth it because it promises restoration care for these people who've suffered one day all of our questions will be answered.

One day God will restore in heaven and in the next life. What we have lost in this life. Look at verse 35 the previous 11. They place their hope and a better life after the resurrection, you know, we put all of her focus on this line but there is an afterlife and that goes on forever in this life on earth. Even if it's long is relatively short is not. The Bible says we spend our life like a story that's already been told it's a puff of smoke that appears for a moment Scripture says and vanishes away. Then there's the afterlife and I want to ask you this question. In closing, are you ready for the afterlife. Let me put it another way, if you died today would you go to heaven so I hope so. I have faith in the good Lord in the man upstairs, and I've lived a good life and that's all nice but he doesn't want to just be the good Lord of the man upstairs and a good life visiting and to get you to heaven because heaven is not for good people might surprise somebody right now heaven is not for good people. Heaven is for forgiven people. You see, you can live a good life and not go to heaven. I'm not going to get to heaven because I'm a preacher I'm not going to get to heaven because I've done X amount of good things I meant to get to heaven because I've put my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord who died on the cross for me. 2000 years ago, and here's my question to you. You done that, she being a Christian is not just I want to read the Bible now and go to church and say Christian things now know, being a Christian is having Christ himself, take residence in your heart. The Bible says, for as many as received him, he gave them the power to become sons and daughters of God.

Have you received Christ as it would mean receive Christ. I mean have you said to God, I'm a sinner and I know Jesus is the Savior, and I want him to forgive me of my sin and come and live in my life. If you've not done that you can do it right here, right now he stands at the door of your life and Enoch, and he says if you'll hear his voice and open the door will come in. Would you like your sin forgiven.

Would you like to know that when you die you will go to heaven. Would you like him to fill the big hole inside of you. Maybe you been trying to fill with other things. He's just a prayer away the moment. I'm in a praying.

I would ask you if you want Christ to come into your life to pray this prayer with me again as I pray pray this prayer you can print out loud right here. Let's all pray pray these words Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner.

I know that I've fallen short of your glory but I think you for sending Jesus to die on the cross for my sin and the rise again from the dead. I turned from my sin, I repent of my sin and I asked Jesus to come in the my life right now to be my Savior and Lord my God and my friend in Jesus name I pray rear from Pastor Greg Laurie was making a decision for the Lord today and if you just pray that prayer with Pastor Greg and meant those words sincerely we want to welcome you into the family of God and would like to help you get started in living the life of faith letter sent you something called our new believers growth packet will answer many of the questions you might have and help you build a strong foundation for your face so ask for the new believers] as you call 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime around the clock that's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click the words know God Pastor Greg. When we look at world events global hostility toward Israel recovering from a worldwide pandemic. Good talk of new ones funeral contempt for biblical values.

It sure seems like the time is right for the Lord to return yes, but many people our age. Remember Pastor saying that back in the 70s. So what can we learn from your book were making available on Revelation, I think we want to always live our life ready for the Lord's imminent return, he may come tonight. He could come in the year he may come in 10 years, 20 years we don't know when he's coming.

I've always avoided any kind of date setting because Jesus says no one knows the day or the hour. However, there are so many passages that tell us to wake up spiritually and to put on the armor of God, because the day of the Lord is coming. It will come. It could come in our lifetime. It may come after, but no matter what life will come to an end and we will enter eternity. So we want to be ready for that moment. But there are many signs of the times happening right now that I think we should pay attention to the Bible tells us that in the end times. It would be like a woman having labor pains. Now you know when mother is ready to give birth. Her labor pains become more frequent and there closer together and that is exactly the analogy Jesus use when you see these things begin.

The company says look up for your redemption is drawing near. We've had an increase in many things. The Bible said would be happening. As an example, the Bible predicted that one day there would be a cashless society. 100 years ago that would've seemed absurd, but today with modern technology with crypto currency with all of the tech that's happening around us, we can see how we could step into that immediately.

The Bible tells us in the last days that there would be a spread of plagues globally. I think that you could say that this pandemic covered 19 was a plague and that is a sign of the times I could go on and on and things that are happening.

The tension in the Middle East and much much more. As we see these things happen there reminders that Jesus is coming again will tell you what the book of Revelation unlocks this for us, and I've written a book simply called Revelation subtitled a book of promises. This is a thick book. This is a hardcover book that will be a resource that you can go to again and again and it's going to help make the book of Revelation more understandable to you and you'll begin to understand prep for the first time how to apply these Drews in your own life. Listen, I want to send this book to you for no charge. It's actually for your gift of any sites or encouraging you to send something to help us continue to reach out to this radio broadcast a new beginning, and our other outreach efforts, as well as how we proclaim the gospel. This is how we do it to pray for us.

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Revelation subtitled a book of promises will be glad to get it on its way to you immediately and will also include a custom bookmark. We produced it lays out the timeline of the events of Bible prophecy, the rapture, the second coming, the tribulation, the millennium, she them all displayed in proper order. Very helpful in the bookmark is included when we send you a copy of Pastor Greg book when you send your donation be sure to ask for Revelation, a book of promises and today is our last opportunity to mention this resource surrenders today at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. Our team is standing by around-the-clock should dial 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org next time will explore what's waiting for us in the hereafter. In a message called let's talk about join us here on a new beginning*Bible Greg Laurie and everybody thinks or listening to an beginning this is a podcast made possible by harvest partners. So for more content that can help you know God and equip you to make him known to others or to learn more about how you can become a harvest partner. Just go to harvest.org